VPI owners.......

Bpoletti: You are of coarse assumming that you can blindly place the platter at the same exact spot each time. That is impossible. Also, your way implies that the manufacturing process of each individual piece IE: platter/ plinth / bearing surface, etc... is "true". "True" rarely happens, especially in the price range of components we are talking about. Since posting this, I aquired a dial indicator. Needless to say, my business card way of doing it is extremely accurate!

@Slaw Balance is both the vertical and horizontal movement of the platter.

When a car tire is balanced the mechanic does not use runout.

Setting the platter by matching the dots works great, IMO, on my TNT Mk III.

I agree with Bpoletti, you are splitting hairs, no platter is perfect, horizontally or vertically.

@Slaw If you bought a used VPI and the previous owner screwed with the platter screws you are SOL! Better to buy new.

The only platter runout problems I've ever had were associated with previous users that changed the leveling screws in the first place. (I've bought several used including my current original Aries.)

It doesn't take much to place the platter at the recommended position. That seems to result in a good runout.

****@Slaw If you bought a used VPI and the previous owner screwed with the platter screws you are SOL! Better to buy new.****

VPI reset and balanced the set screws in my MK5 platter free of charge; didn't even charge me return shipping. Great customer service.